The Marlins shut down their ace because of a strained muscle in the middle of this lower back.

JJ said he is okay with the decision, but it is killing him inside not being able to finish the year.
“Of course you want to be out there,” he said. “That’s what I told them, I said ‘I’d love to be out there.’ They said, ‘we know you want to be out there.’

“But yeah, it’s the smart thing to do. It’s not fun. I’ve been on this side but even worse than this. I’ve said I don’t want to come back to this side and not pitching.”

JJ missed nearly all of 2007 and more than half of 2008 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

He finishes the season with a 11-6 record and 2.30 ERA in 183 2/3 innings but his numbers have slipped dramatically since the All-Star break.

He was 9-3 with a league leading 1.70 ERA and opponents were hitting .203 against him in 18 starts before the break.

Since, he is 2-3 with a 3.50 ERA and opponents are hitting .276 against him in 10 starts.

“He was the best pitcher (in the league) the first half of the year,” manager Edwin Rodriguez said.

JJ said he felt the back pain early in the year and it subsided with treatment. He said June and July were good but it returned during his Aug. 7 start against St. Louis, but not enough to prevent him from pitching.

“You got to be smart with things like this,” JJ said. “I told them, ‘as soon as something else starts hurting, I’ll let you guys know.’ Everything felt good until after the last start.”

JJ felt back and shoulder pain after his Sept. 4 start against Atlanta and left the team that week, flying from Philadelphia to South Florida, to see doctors.

The hope was he’d miss one start (last Friday) and get back on the mound Wednesday, but he was unable to throw in the bullpen on Sunday, triggering the discussion to shut him down.

The pain in his right (throwing) shoulder has improved and it would have been ready in two or three days.

Johnson has had lower back pain but never in this spot, the middle of his left side. The hope is can start playing catch by the final week of the season.

Rodriguez said if the Marlins were in a playoff race JJ might have made another start or two.

“He was getting a little bit better,” Rodriguez said. “He was very far from being 100 percent.

“JJ is very smart. He’s always been very honest. When he thinks he wouldn’t be able to help the team he’ll let you know.”

The Marlins will use a spot starter against the Phillies on Wednesday, depending on who is used tonight and Tuesday.

Pitching coach Randy St. Claire said that Jorge Sosa would likely be held back with hopes of starting the game.

Today’s lineup

Cameron Maybin was a late scratch from the lineup because of flu-like symptoms, replaced by Chad Tracy with Emilio Bonifacio moving from third base to center field. Rodriguez said it has been going around the clubhouse the last few days.